Help good dogs stop bad pests from following them

Migratory bird hunters can help protect Wisconsin’s natural resources from aquatic invasive species, this fall. True friends don’t let their friends transport aquatic invasive species.

These invaders can hide in the most unsuspected places, so it’s important to double-check gear (and the dog), when done hunting for the day.

When waterfowl hunting, insects, snails and seeds can collect under the vests of four-legged friends. That’s why it’s important to give the dog a rinse with a jug of clean water or scrub them off with a brush, while they go for a quick swim, to prevent invasive species from hitching a ride home or to the next hunting spot.

Just a few minutes of preventative action can protect the state’s hunting tradition for generations to come.

Before launching into or leaving a water body, hunters should always do the following:

• Inspect waders, boats, trailers, motors and hunting equipment, including boots, blinds and dogs, before leaving a boat launch or access point.

• Remove all plants, animals and mud. A special consideration for waterfowl hunters, is to remove all seed heads and roots, when using vegetation to conceal duck blinds. It is also important to note that it is illegal to use phragmites for camouflage in counties where the plant is prohibited by NR40. In general, these counties include the western half of the state.

• Drain all water from decoys, boats, motors and other hunting equipment.

• Never move plants or live fish away from a water body.